Travelogue from Hadrian’s Wall

I’m back from a trip along Hadrian’s Wall. The trip however began with some days in York.

Here is my travelogue:

Monday: We arrived in Manchester and went directly by train to York. We checked in at Hotel Marriott. The hotel is within walking distance from the centre of York, by the racetrack. It is a very nice hotel with swimming pool, fitness and very soft beds! We even got room no. 007 After unpacking we went to Mickelgateto find dinner.

Micklegate

Tuesday: After breakfast we went to the Holy Trinity Church. A very beautiful old monastery church. It was a very nice beginning of the day. We walked on the town wall from Mickelgate to Yorkshire Museum. Before entering the museum, we want to see the roman tower in the gardens. After the museum we had lunch at Bailey’s Café & Tea room outside the museum gardens. Afterwards we went to the incredible York Minster! We then strolled around the old streets of York and went for cider in the oldest pub in York, Black Swan. Dinner was Fish’n’chips at another old pub, The Three Tuns.

York

Wednesday: We spent most of the day at York Castle Museum. We had afternoon tea at Bettys. Very nice indeed! The afternoon we spent at York Dungeon – a fun experience even for a scaredy cat like me! We had cider at The King’s Arms, before indian dinner at Jannan.

Thursday: We had an early start, as we were going to Newcastle. York Station reminded us of Harry Potter, and we was leaving from platform 9, but not platform 9 3/4, unfortunately. We arrived in Newcastle at 10.16. We went with the underground to Haymarket and the Great North Museum. We had a nice lunch in the museum. Afterwards we strolled to Monument and St. Nicholas. From there we went to Black Gate and Newcastle Keep.

Newcastle

We then picked up our bags at GNM, and went back to the station as we were catching the train to Hexham at 4.54. We had booked a room at Station Inn. It is a lovely inn, and the manager was the nicest person! I do recommend staying here. We took a walk and saw Hexham Gaol, Hexham Abbey, The Shambles, the park and Moothall. We had fish’n’chips for dinner at Paxton’s, as it seemed to be where the locals went.

Friday: At 9.03 we went with bus, AD122, to Housesteads, as the bus didn’t make a stop by Chesters. We took the return bus back to Chesters and walked towards the Temple of Mithras (we did not find it!). We stopped by Brocolitia, hand went with the bus to Hawthistle. We reached the Roman Army Museum, got stuck and took a taxi to Vallum Lodge. I cannot recommend this place enough! It is very, very nice and the people are very sweet! We had dinner at the local pub, Twice Brewed.

The Wall

Saturday: It was raining, so the nice ladies at Vallum Lodge drove us to Vindolanda. It was a wet experience, but very interesting! The museum was extraordinary. We had our lunch here before returning to Vallum Lodge. We waited an hour here for the bus to Gilsland. We were staying at the B&B Tantallon House. We had a very warm welcome and afternoon tea, before walking to Poltross Burnmilecastle. We had dinner and Archers at Samson Inn.

Vindolanda

Sunday: After a lovely breakfast we played with the puppies, before getting the bus to the Roman Army Museum. We had lunch at the museum, and then walked in Walltown Quarry. From here we went with bus to Carlisle and the County Hotel. The hotel was ok, but nothing special. We visited Carlisle Cathedral (during service). We wanted to see Carlisle Castle, but came across Tullie House Museum. They have a very nice roman exhibition. We only got to see Carlisle Castle from the outside. We had dinner at The Griffin. We then purchased our tickets for the train to Manchester the next day.

Walltown Quarry

Monday: We went with the train at 9.49 to Manchester. We went to our hotel, Hotel Sachas. No recommendation, as the rooms very unclean and without windows. We went shopping and saw Manchester Cathedral, before cider and dinner at The Old Wellington. Big recommendation to this pub!